James 1:6-8
If we have an inaccurate perspective of God, it could cause
us to think that He isn’t interested in our needs and concerns. On the
contrary, the Lord invites us to pray, because He delights in providing for
us—and He stands ready to do so. However, different types of hindrances can
block the effectiveness of our prayers.
Ignorance of God’s will for our life and the specific
circumstances we are facing is one such obstacle. His affirmative answers come
when our petitions are in agreement with His purposes for us (1 John 5:14-15).
Even if Scripture does not specifically address our situation, we can always
ask the Lord to fill us with “the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom
and understanding” (Col. 1:9).
Selfish motives are another hindrance to answered
prayer (James 4:3). Sometimes we’re more concerned about getting the Lord to do
what we want than we are about submitting to His will in the situation.
Doubts about God and His faithfulness also keep us from
experiencing answered prayer. Low expectations and uncertainty are like
intruders in our conversations with Him because they short-circuit faith.
Doubts may originate from listening to the wrong voices, embracing false
beliefs, or focusing on the difficulty instead of the power, wisdom, and
faithfulness of the Lord.
Effective prayer begins with trust in God and an awareness
of His ways. Otherwise, skepticism may sneak into our thinking if He delays His
answer or responds in an unexpected way. But when our prayers are aligned with
His will and motivated by a desire to glorify Him, doubts will vanish.
Thought for today:
Do I believe that God is hearing and honoring my prayer?
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